The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1887-04-20

had learned that part of the wagon boys
'lesson,n while John and his followers
came back as fast as they had gone out.
That could not be the end of it, however,
and before long, from the comparatively
safe and central spot where John Law
renee had stationed her and her father,
the little grove and the prairie around it
seemed to Mary Dennson one confused
hurly burly, sort of plains kaleidoscope
of yelling, bow twanging Kiowas, powder
blackened teamsters, wounded and falling
men, on both sides, mules, arrow stung,
screaming and kicking, and all the other
sights and sounds Of such life and death
struggle. And through it all there was
one voice that sounded steady and calm,
one hand that seemed never to fail, one
presence that was at every place as soon
as any danger came, and Mary found her.
self repeating: "Only wagon boy
But her father added:
~ NAV have had my misfortunes, Mary,
but If Mr.. Lawrence would listen to me a
moment, l think could tell him''-
"Tell him what, father?"
sIhat he made great mistake in being
born wagon boy, my dear; he was cut
out for general. That's all.
And yet John Lawrence did find time
to think. Half his men were killed or
wounded, and so were at least half of his
own mules and he himself had been so
barked and stung with Kiowa arrows that
his mining claims and other evidences of
business capacity seemed to have lost their
value.
"Another charge like the last, and
they,ll sweep right over us, " he exclaimed.
UI wonder II that feather Drained lieuten-
ant ever means to come back. May be
they've gathered his hair for him already.
Stand fast there, menr'-his voice was
like a trumpet now. "Givc it to theml
| II we break we're gone. They mustn't get
inside the ring"
1t had been one last, sweeping rush for
coveted scalps and bitterly longed for ven-
geance, and it had come and gone like n
whirlwind, md right In on its track had
sounded the bugles and clattercd the
sabers Of not Lieut.. Strong's mere squad,
| but of two full companies of dashing, blue
| coated veterans, with Col. Moulton him
| self at their head, the terror Of all wild
red men. The lieutenant was, indeed,
| among them, with what the Kiowas had
| left of the "escort," for he, too had had his
share of the days bad work and his
teaching" had gone hard with him.
Lieut. Strong" said the grim old
colonel, 'idid you not tell me you left the
train on the roadi"
~ did, sir, and ordered it to keep right
| on till rejoined it, replied the still self
confident young officer.
| "You did, indeed! All, then, it's no
| fault of yours that it wasn't gobbled up.
| Did all you could, should say. But who
| was left in commando Who handled the
teamsters in this fight? Who planned
this corralf'
| "John Lawrence, SIR" here put in old
| Mr.. Dennison, land the way he did it,
sir, would have doue you good to see. !
may have had my misfort,nes, but II
you'll only send a surgeon to look after
hinl He's only wagon boy, colonel, but
we all owe him whatever hair time and
trouble has left us"
| "wounded Is he7 John lawrence
Why, he's an old friend of mine. Been
over with him twice. He's II gentleman.
Where is heY"
Fright over here by our wagon, SIR
where he made his last stand. There's
to say killed one" replied the old gen
tIeman, with an extra wheeze. Il may
have had my misfortunes, but pulled
| straight on the redskin That had that
wagon boy down. Thut was the end Of
the fight, sir"
1t was more than that, for many n long
days nursing was required before John
Lawrence could sit on his mustang again,
and long before his strength came hack lo
had determined to give up wagoning
Sick Of itf
No, but Mary Dcnnison could never
have kept him company on endless trips
across the plains, while ranch life would
be good enough for him II she would join
him, as she agreed TO do. Even hel
father remarked.
"Mary, may have had my misfor
tunes, but don't feel as il could count
your wagon boy for one OF them. Hart
ford Times.